Awning-operating mechanism



Oct. 7, 1930. J. w. SHAW AWNIN' OPERATING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w 5 0 3 1 7 2 J J 4 Q M w! w 1.7 w, N o 1 n\ w p 3 .9 WM 4 4 a W 2; L 1f 1 11 21 1 I 3 INVENTOR Jbfizz III/6720111 BY 22%, 01%.- Wan-MA LL A 'QRNEYQ Oct. 7, 1930.

J. W. SHAW AWNING OPERATING MECHANISM Filed April 23, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR .Jbfin,

A? ATTORNEY$ P tented Oct. 7, 19 30 i Q 1 777,739

U ED STATES :Pm ifQFF C JYR 'omi QsHA or nonwoonnnwzrniisnir JLWNING-OIEEBATING Mnc ANIsM Application filed April 23,1928. Serial No. 272,075; :The present; invention is concerned with venting theiawni ngfrombecoming creased awning operating mechanism which may ;or jamin'edonitsrolleril M i have awide range'of utility but whichis Further, and niore, general objects are peculiarly adaptedfor use in connection with to provide a mechanism of simple practical {window awnings where" it is desired to ma 1 construction which willbe ruggedjdurable nipulate the awning {from withina room and eflicient in'use and well suited, to the without ,openingthe window. a requirements of economical manufacture.

wThe mechanism is applicable to various With the above noted' and other objects styles of awnings; such forinst'ance as the in view the invention consists i'ngcertain drop type although it is primarily intended novel features of construction and: combifor association with the roller type awnings nations and arrangements of parts which now=commonly employed. The'mechanism will be more fully hereinafter described and is also conveniently" applicable to various pointed outin the claims, i i a styles of windows and easements regardless The invention may be more fully under- 9150f Whether sliding sashes or swinging sashes stood from: the following description in conare mounted in such easements; It may be llGCtiOn with the accompanying"drawings applied tof various standarclwindows with whereinz y ;I 4 no need for alteringthe awning andwith Fig." -1' is a perspective 'view' of the exbut slight changes in the window construe terior of awindow showing ana-wning and,

20 tionLfZIn fact the only alteration needed in associated operating-mechanism ;applied-to the windowconstructionisthe provision of the window, the awning'beingshown partial-i openings in the sash or frame to permit the lyunrolledm u a V "1' i pa'ssagefof a flexible operating device from 'Fig'. 2 isv anlenlargedbroken vertical seci the insidevto theoutsicle of a window. tional view-*taken"approximatelyonthe line 2 Anbbjeot of the invention is to provide 22 of Fig. 1. a i 2 operating mechanism o d igned that F1g. 18 an enlarged fragmentary outs de =woman or' a child may readily manipulate, view wlth parts broken away and insection without pyhsical exertion, even a heavy t Sake 0 631 888 J i a i h y b m l d' ifh t F 1g. 4 lsan enlarged broken sectional plan 30 Wide nietal fixed sash type of taken 01130116 line 4-4 0f 5. E501 Another object is to provide a mechanism 5 is Q verticalpsecltioml 9 g which will be inconspicuous and which will the g F lm k l 9 F g-: not detract from the usual neat appearance 1S ll l the awnlng of either theinsideorjoutside of a Window. j, j Another object is to: provide an awning F19} IS an msldqiperspectglve Y hQ ltianipulating mechanism fin which no *%l 3 r 5 k ip f g. springs arerequired 'and none of the mom 18 an f Iona YE in arts of the mechanism are fra ile or through the cham Operatmg Sleeve" ft w t e In the drawingsI have shownametal'wlm 4 0 b 2 1 i a i d dow franie lO withinwhich is set astationary Lu eruo 1s SO s? sash 11, thefiiame of'which is provided with semble the mportant parts of the mecha- 'centerri ht 12 throu h" which the flexible nlsn that they may be attached to and rei g g 13 is a v i moved from a window with expedition and I. T g h gi i is o on a springlss i 5 facility lan @7 P t readily accessible .roller;l5 'mountedin brackets 16, 17 secured f 1 1 1 9 of repair p n *tothe window frame at opposite sidesof the t on lGC Provide 3 latter. These ,bracketsare arrangedto supnism utilizing P r hich are devoid of port the roller 15 outwardly beyond the a sharp corners or protruding edges likely to brackets 18 which ares'ecured lowerdown on 50 tean theawqning which willaid in preopposite sides ot-theirame l0 and provide 1 pivotal mounting for the lower ends of the rigid arms 19, the upper ends of which are integrally connected by a cross piece run through a hem in the awning adjacent the free edge of the latter.

Inasmuch as the pivots 21 for these arms are arranged inwardly of the rolled awning the cross piece 20 strikes the roll before the arms 19 can be swung to a verticalor. dead center position. Thus the weight of these arms always acts to unroll the awning and move it toward its fully extended operative position.

The roller 15 is preferably a hollow metal tube having a plug 22 in one end thereof carrying a gudgeon 23 adapted to be dropped into a slot 24 in the bracket 16. The plug may be pinned in the hollow roller by a screw 24.

Bracket 16 includes the plate portion 16* disposed in a vertical plane and projecting outwardly from the window frame and the integral horizontal plat-e portion 16 secured against the underface of the top of the window frame.

The other roller supporting bracket 17 includes an attaching plate portion 17 lying against the top of the window frame and a. pair of spaced forwardly projecting parallel plates 17 integrally connected at their ends and providing mountings for a train of intermeshing operating gears 25, 26, 27 Gear 27, the driven gear of the train, is preferably the largest one and its axle 28 projects well inwardly and mounts a hub 29 for the open end of roller 15. This roller at its open end is provided with diametrically opposed notches 30 receiving the radially projecting ends of a pin 31 passed through the hub 29 and holding this hub in place on the axle 28. The slot and pin connection 30, 31 couples the roller 15 and hub 29 for unitary rotary movement. It also permits the roller 15 to be readily emplaced and removed, removal being accomplished by merely lifting the gudgeon 23 out of its notch 24 and withdrawing the roller endwise from the hub 29.

The driving gear 25 which imparts movement to the driven gear 27 through a small idler 26 is also provided with an extended axle 32 mounting a hub 33 corresponding to 'thehub 29 and provided with a pin 34 similar to the pin-31.

The hollow horizontal driving shaft 35 is mounted between the roller 15 and the sash 1.1 in substantial parallelism with the roller. One end of the shaft is notched at 36 to slip over the hub 33 and engage the ends of pit 34. A plug 37 is secured by screw 37 in the opposite end of shaft 35 and carries a grid-- geon 38 mounted in the depending portion 39 of a bracket 39 fixed to the top of the window frame at approximately the center thereof. A sprocket wheel 40 is'held on the outer end of the gudgeon 38 by pin 41. i

The endless flexible device 13 (in this case a sprocket chain) for rotating the wheel 40 passes from this wheel through an adjacent opening 42 in the upright 12, over the sprocket 43, mounted in a bracket 43 secured to the inside of the upright 12. The sprocket chain extends downward within the room near the lower end of the window around sprocket 44 .andout through the opening 45 over sprocket therein, within which the ends of tubular inner and outer flexible concentric sleeves 50, 51 are secured. Sleeve is preferably of leather or some similar tough long-wearing material adapted to withstand frequent frictional engagement with the ch ain, while sleeve 51 may be of velvet or other soft material which will serve as a cushion and grip for the hand and at the same time present an ornamental appearance.

g The operation of the device is substantially as follows: To shift the chain in a direction to unroll the awning, the sleeve 47 is grasped tightly and raised, carrying the chain 13 with it. The sleeve is then released and slid down to its normal position after which the operation is repeated as manytimes as necessary. reverse operation is of course resorted to in rolling up the awning; that is to say the sleeve is slid up on the chain and then it is grasped and pulled down car rying the chain with it.

In this operation the sleeve 47, which is normally capable of sliding freely on the chain, moves with the chain only because it is frictionally engaged therewith by the pressure of an operators hand. It will be understood, of course, that the movement/of the sprocket chain turns the shaft 35 and through the gears 25., 26,27rotates the awning roller 15 to positively roll up the awning orto permit the awningto unwind under the influence of the weight of the bar 20 and its arms 19.

Due to the powerful leverage afforded by the sprocket chain and gear-train, raising or lowering of the awning requires the application of only a slight physical force and 1 conveniently placed employ; the small n mes the awning, however,- particularly where the awning isa very.wide,heavyone, some phys ical exertionisnecessary, even with the powerful leverage, which the, present mechanism affords. Since the manually applied force incidental to raisingthe awning may be more by a downwardpull than by an upward-lift, reversing idler gear 26 n {the geartrain, By virtue of this arrange .ment, the person operating the awning may conveniently utilize their entire weight, if desired, topull down-on the chain, whereas theapplication of an upward lift on the chain cannotbe aided by the weight of the body.

. :The friction of the gear. train and the sprocket-chain isordina-rily sufficient to balance the weight of thearnis l9 and cross piece 20,so that the chain against moving.

the awning is retained against enrolling from any position of adjustment. If desired however, an additional positivesafeguard may be provided to secure This means-may conveniently comprise a chain keeper fixed to theinner faceof the bar 12. p This keeper includes attaching :plate portion 52 screwedor otherwise secured asat 53 to the viii baril 2and at itsupperedge providedwith horizontalextension 54: having :a keeper slot- 55 extending inwardly from ,one edge thereof, 1 The sprocl ietchain is of conventional light wire construction.

tlieinner run of the chain is-fleXed inwardly and the chain link engaged inthe slot-55' the chain will be securely. held ,since. the eyes or enlargedendsmf the links cannotbe pulled through: the slot. r 1 ByJso arranging the, mechanism that the sprocket chain-runs through the center frame bar 12, 1; eliminate any possible-interference of the chain with curtains or draperies such as arecommonlyemployed at the sides of the window. j I i. I

Obviously the operati g gear might with slight variations befapplied to a drop type awning Patently aalso-the particular arrangement for. gravitationally lowering the above construction, and 5 many free edge of the awning is subject to,change and other types a of roller awnings, :or analogous devices .Whether connected to pivoted arms or not -mightbe manipulated by the present gear.

willthus be seen that there is herein describeda device in which the several features of this: invention are embodied, and which device in its action attains thevarious objects iofthe invention and is well suited to meet the requirements of practical use. a

As many changescouldbe made in the apparently widely differentembodiments ofthis inven- -tion;could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all inatten contained in. the; above description or on the sprocket chain asseen in Fig.

intermediate portion of a shown in the. accompanying drawings shall illustrative and not in a secure by Letters;

includingysupportingbrackets for :theends of an awning rolle apower transmitting gear train mounted in one a and ahub fixedto theidriven roller-actuating of the brackets,

gear ofthe train and adapted to receive the open end of a tubular-awningroller, and hav ing a slot and pin-connection with said hub, wherebythe roller is coupled to the gear train as an, incident of mounting the, roller in its brackets. i

In an awning operating mechanismpaj bracket fixture adapted to be secured to window frame, including an'attaching pore,

tionand a bearing plate portion, a train of intermeshing. driving; gears mounted in said bearing plate portion, a hub fixed: to turn with, the driven gear of said train,=adapted to receive andsupport roller and to couplesaid roller to the train, and a second hub fixed toturnrwith the driv- 111g gearof said train andad'apted to receive and support the endyof a driving shaftland'v to couple said shaft to the train. a V

In an awningoperatingrgear, the combination with an mounted on the outside of anwindow; frame, of brackets removably supporting said roller,

a roller operating geartrain carried by oneof;

said brackets, a drivingQsha-ftld-isposed parallel to and inwardlyof the roller, said shaft being also supported at one. endby said bracket. I, is 4. In an awningoperatlng gear, the com.-

the end of anaawning awning roller adapted tobe bination. with an awning roller adapted to be mounted on theoutside of brackets removably supporting ;saidroller,; a roller operating geartrain carried'tby one of said brackets, a driving shaft disposed par- Vallelto and inwardly of tl1eroller,;said shaft being also supported'at one end b-yrsaid a window frame,of

bracket, the. meansforsupportingthe shaft and roller fromthe bracketcomprising hubs fixed to the driving. and driven gears of-the train and to which; the ends-ofdthe shaft androllerare connected. a y; g 5, In an awningoperating gear, the combination withan awning rollerfadapted to be mounted on the outside of a window frame, of

brackets removably supporting said roller,

a, roller operatinggear train; carried of said brackets, a driving shaft parallel tofand inwardly ofthe roller, said shaft being: also supported at one endbysaid bracket, the means forisupporting the shaft and roller a fixed to the driving and driven gears of the trainhand to .whichthe ends ofthe shaft and roller are 1 connected, said hubs having-islet disposed from the hracketqcomprising hubs and pin connectionswith the shaft and roller,

whereby said members are positively coupled to turn with the gear train.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a bracket including an attaching plate portion and a pair of spaced parallel bearing plate portions, and a train of awning roller operating gears mounted between and borne by said parallel plateportionsr V 7. As a new article of manufacture, a bracket including an attaching plate portion and a pair of spaced parallel bearing plate portions, a train of awning roller operating gears mounted between and borne by said parallel plate portions, certain of said gears including projecting axles, hubs on said axles exteri-orly of said plates and radial pins projecting from said hubs for the reception of hollow shafts or rollers having slotted ends.

8. In an awning operating mechanism, for

use with a fixed type window sash. an awning operating rotary member adapted for disposition exteriorily of the sash, an endless sprocket chain including a run for disposition exteriorily of the sash and a run for disposition interiorly thereof and a plurality of guiding sprockets for the chain adapted to be disposed exteriorly and interiorly of the sash, one of said sprockets being fixed to the rotary member.

9. In an awning operating mechanism, for use with a fixed type window sash, an awning operating rotary member adapted for disposition exteriorly of the sash, an endless sprocket chain including a run for disposition exteriorly of the sash and a run for disposition interiorly thereof and a plurality of guiding sprockets for the chain adapted to be disposed exteriorly and interiorly of the sash, one of said sprockets being fixed to the rotary member, and a flexible sleeve member normally slidable on the interior run of the chain, adapted to be manually grasped to frictionally. engage the chain for operating purposes.

10. In an awning operating mechanism, for use with a fixed type window sash, an awning operating rotary member adapted for disposition exteriorly of the sash, an endless sprocket chain including a run for disposition exteriorly of the sash and a run for disposition interiorly thereof and a plurality of guiding sprockets for the chain adapted to be disposed exteriorly and interiorly of the sash, one of said sprockets being fixed to the rotary member, and a bracket adapted to be fixed to the interior of the sash with which the sprocket chain may be optionally engaged to prevent movement of the sprocket chain.

11. An awning roller adapted to be detachably mounted at the exterior of the frame and to extend substantially the full width of the sash, a shaft operatively connected to the roller, disposed insubstantial parallelism therewith and adapted to lie between the roller and sash, an endless sprocket chain including a run for disposition inside of the sash and a run for disposition outside of the sash, said chain being operatively connected to said shaft.

12. A device for use with a window frame and sash of the fixed type having a vertical central bar, of an awning roller detachably mounted at the exterior of the frame and extending substantially the full width of the sash, a shaft operatively connected to the roller, disposed in substantial parallelism therewith and lying between the roller and sash, an endless sprocket chain including a run disposed inside of the sash and a run disposed outside of the sash, said chain being operatively connected to said shaft, and running through said central vertical bar. 13. A device for use with a window frame and sash, of the fixed type having a central vertical bar comprising an awning roller to be detachably mounted at the exterior of the frame and to extend substantially the full width of the sash, a shaft operatively connected to the roller, disposed in substantial parallelism therewith and to lie between the roller and sash, an endless sprocket chain including a run adapted to be disposed inside of the sash and a run adapted to be disposed outside of the sash, said chain being operatively connected to said shaft, said chain running through the central bar, and said shaft extending from said bar to one side of the frame.

it. As a new article of manufacture, an operating device for endless sprocket chains or the like including a flexible sleeve, adapted to encircle the chain and including substantially rigid spool members at each end slid-able freely on the chain, said sleeve adapted to be manually grasped and frictionally engaged with the chain, whereby the sleeve will serve as a protective handle.

15. A springless roller for awnings or the like including a metal tube, a gudgeon supporting plug fixed in one end of the tube, the other end of the tube being constructed to cooperatively provide a slot and pin connection with a hub member over which the end of the tube is adapted to he slipped and with which the tube is adapted to turn.

16. In an operating mechanism for roller awnings, the combination of a sash awning roller adapted to be disposed exteriorly of a sash, supporting brackets therefor and a flexible operating device, one of said brackets comprising a unitary structure embodying a substantially thin flat body portion and power transmitting mechanism to couple the roller and operating device.

17. In an operating mechanism for roller awnings, the combination of a sash awning roller. adapted to be disposed exteriorly of a sash, supporting brackets therefor and a flexible operating device, one of said brackpower transmitting mechanism to couple the the other end of the operatively connected roller and operating device, and a shaft op-, erated by the flexible device supported at one end by said bracket and operatively connected to the power transmitting mechanism,

shaft being disposed adjacent the center of the sash through which the flexible device turns.

p 18. A device for use with a window frame and sash, of the fixed type having a central .vertical bar comprising an awning roller detachably mounted at the exterior of the frame and extending substantially the'full width ofthe sash, a shaft operatively connected to the roller, disposed in therewith and lying between the roller and sash, an endless sprocket chain including a run disposed inside of the sash and a run disposed outside of the sash, said chain being to said shaft, said sash including a central vertical bar through which the chain runs, said shaft extending from said bar to one side of the frame, and mounting at one end a sprocket wheel serving as the operative connection with the chain.

'19. A device for'use with a window frame and sash, of the fixed type having a central vertical bar comprising an awning roller detachably mounted at the exterior of the eluding an inner substantial parallelism to be manually grasped and, frictionally en gaged with thechain, whereby the sleeve'will serve as a protective handle, said sleeve inlamination of tough-flexible material and an outerlamination of soft flexible cushioning material.

22. In an operating mechanism for awn-v ings; an awning roller adapted tobe disposed exteriorly of the sash, supporting brackets therefor, a train of power trans mitting gears mounted in oneof the brackets, a sprocket chain for operating the gear train including a run adapted to be disposed exteriorly of the sash and a run adapted tobe disposed interiorly thereof, said gear train including driving anddriven gears and a reversing idler gear disposed between them.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 20th day of April, A. D. 1928.

JOHN W. SHAW.

frame and extending substantially the full width of the sash, a shaft operatively con nected to the roller, disposed in substantial parallelism therewith and lying between the roller andsash, an endless sprocket chain including a run disposed inside of the sash and a run disposed outside of the sash, said chain being operatively connected to said liaft, said sash including a central vertical 7 bar through which the chain runs,said shaft extending from said bar to one side of the frame, and mountlng at one end a sprocket wheel serving as the operative connection with the chain, and at its opposite end being indirectly connected with the roller.

i teriorly thereof and and interiorly of the 20. In an awning operating mechanism for wlndow sashes includlng a rotary member disposed exteriorly of the sash, an endless sprocket chain including a run disposed exteriorly ofthe sash and a run disposed ina plurality of guiding sprockets forthe chain disposed exteriorly sash, one of said sprockets being fixed to the rotary member, a stationary frame piece through which the sprocket chain runs and behind which one run thereof is concealed.

21. As a new article of manufacture, an

tially rigid spool members at each end slidable freely on the chain, said sleeve adapted 

